Tuesday, December 27, 2011

As some of you may know, my parents finalized their divorce last year, so holidays have been an adjustment in my house.

But if anything, I think this adjustment has made me love my family even more.

On Christmas Eve, my mama and I went to the Christmas Eve service at our new church, and it was without a doubt the best Christmas Eve service I've ever been to. Later my sister, brother-in-law and niece came over, and we had dinner and opened presents. Then, as is our yearly tradition, we went to look at a house that has the most INSANE lights display I've ever seen. It puts Clark Griswald to shame.

And, ok. Honestly y'all, every Christmas I swear I am the last kid on earth to open presents. Every year my parents always made us wait, while they woke up, while they made coffee, while they stuffed our stockings. It hasn't bothered me as I've gotten older, I like a lazy Christmas morning now.

But this year I woke up and my mom wasn't even home.

Granted, she was out feeding our neighbors dogs, but still.

So I turned on the BBC Doctor Who marathon, and it felt like the Doctor was my family for a little while.

That was nice.

Then she and I opened presents, and I have to tell you. My mom is so sweet it makes me cry. Literally. I love her.

Later that morning I went to my dad's and opened presents, then spent the day watching Christmas movies.

And in my stocking I found this.

Betcha didn't know I have a weakness for the Biebs.

Well I do.

(I brushed my teeth with it this morning. It was life changing.)

The day after Christmas I woke up at 6:30 because I am a mad woman, and went shopping.

IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL SHOPPING DAY.

(today I went shopping again with my mom and bought more things. i have an addiction. send help.)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

- I won't have to freeze to death in my own home, because my mom can afford to keep our heater above like 60 degrees.

- I won't have any responsibilities for an entire month. I am horrible with responsibility. (I am/will make a terrible adult.)

- I will be able to eat real food. It's at that point in the semester when I don't want to buy any new food because I can't eat it all in time, so I'm attempting to live off the food I have left. But eating cookie dough and peanut butter pretzels for every meal might literally kill me.*

Monday, November 21, 2011

Did you guys SEE The Hunger Games trailer?
It has been days and I am still thinking about it.

I think I have now watched it roughly 35 times.

I love everything about it.

But you know what I love most about it?

The fact that I love it.

Does that make sense?

I am notorious for hating movies if they were originally books, because I always love the book more.
I am unbelievably picky when it comes to the movie, so usually I already dislike it by the time the trailer is out.
And while I have definitely found some things I dislike about THG trailer (hello, Haymitch's hair??) overall, I am extremely impressed.

And the trailer has got me thinking about other books that have been turned into movies.
So here's a few that come to mind, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

My Sister's Keeper

Yes, yes, the ending is ridiculous.

But I really do love this movie.

And honestly, (for those of you who have read it and know what I'm talking about) I think if they had kept the original ending in the movie, all of America would have had a heart attack. I know I did when I read it, and seeing it on screen would have made it a thousand times worse.

In Her Shoes

I really love this movie, and I really love this book.

I think if you've read the book, it somehow makes the movie ever better. It's like you know a little secret about the characters that other people don't.

Fair warning though, if you haven't read the book, it is good but much more graphic than the movie.

Memoirs of a Geisha

Wonderful book. Confusing movie.

I first saw this with a friend who hadn't read the book, and if I hadn't read it, we both would have been totally lost. If you have background knowledge of it, I guess it makes sense. But bottom line, whether or not you see the movie, read the book and read it first.

White Oleander

This is possibly my favorite book of all time.

And the movie just doesn't do the book any sort of justice.

Read this book.

P.S. I Love You

Unpopular opinion: I hate this movie.

I never even made it through the whole thing.

I was given the book as a Christmas gift years before it was ever a movie, and I stayed up all night Christmas Eve reading till I finished it, and I think I cried the entire time.

It is BEAUTIFUL book, everyone should read it.

And this movie...I can't even.

I could go on and on about other adaptations (The Life Before Her Eyes, Never Let Me Go, etc.) or rant about how I'm scared they're going to ruin some of my favorite books in the future (The Host, Delirium, Before I Fall) but we'd be here all day.

I guess taking something I love and trying to put it on film makes me nervous, because of things like this :)

Have you seen/read any of these? Do you agree? What are some of your favorite and least favorite adaptations?

Thursday, November 3, 2011

This is a conversation I feel like I am constantly having with the friends I've made online.

I started reading blogs religiously my freshman year of college, when I didn't have a blog or a tumblr or even a bloglovin account.

I just bookmarked them on my computer (I had over 150 saved) and every day I would read them.

And I remember the first time I told someone I knew in real life about something I read on someone's blog, I used the words "my friend."

And inwardly I thought, "Who do I think I am? I don't know this person, and they have no idea who I am. Tone it down, psycho."

I also remember the first time I tweeted something to a blogger I followed.

I panicked, hoping they wouldn't block/report me to twitter because they didn't know me and I had tried to contact them.

The same with the first time I ever emailed a blogger, but that was anxiety x10000.

But you know what?

I have never received anything but unbelievably kind messages back.

And now I am proud to call some of those people my very best friends in the world.

And when I started getting a few messages from people I didn't know, I was ecstatic.

I think in the blogging world, we tend to start every comment and message with "Not to be creepy, but..."

And I get why we do it. People have different reactions, and we don't want Chris Hansen banging down our door, questioning our motives while the cops wait outside with handcuffs, ready to tackle us if we run.

But you know what else?

I don't think we're being shady.

Part of writing a blog is putting yourself out there for others to read it.

That's what the comment button is for.

Now, if you watch the person who walks past your house every day from the window, and then go put a letter in their mailbox telling them all the things you like about them, that might be crossing a line.

Also, don't:

"great pics. that sweater looks sexy. follow back?"

(If you have instagram, you know what I'm talking about. There are some major weirdos on there.)

So next time you go to write a complementary email or comment, skip the "Hope I'm not being creepy..."

(Unless you really are being creepy.)

I have now typed the word creepy so many times that it's starting to look weird.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

For those of you who know me in real life know that my birthday is my favorite day of the year.

And this year was no exception. But this year, it was more like birthday week.

I started off birthday week by going home for the weekend to celebrate with my family.

On Friday night, I went over to my sister's house. She made me the best cupcakes. And you guys, it is officially fall back home. Beautiful, beautiful fall.

On Saturday, I saw my brother, went shopping and spent a little birthday money, and to be honest, felt a little like Amy Pond...

I am super against mirror pictures, but it felt necessary to document. How many times in a girl's life does she get to feel like the mad, impossible Amelia Pond?!

My mother had been teasing me for weeks about a birthday surprise she had planned for weeks, and I knew that my dearest Kate was in on it, too.

So on Saturday night, we drove down to Golden and met Kate at Art on the Brix!

I had never been before, but basically, they have food and drinks and you're given a canvas and paints and you just paint! The theme that night was aspen trees.

Y'all, I cannot even tell you how fun it was. And Kate made me some scones, so that someday we can go out for texting and scones. (Best ever, right Whovians?)

And naturally, I had to include a tiny little TARDIS in my painting.

On Sunday I had brunch at my dad's, and he gave me the most incredible green rain boots that I've been coveting for months. I've barely taken them off since. And it's only rained once since I got them.